Destructive Distillation of Coal | Science Experiment

Note:
The experiment should be carried out behind a clear safety barrier or at a distance from the students.

What we will Learn?
Laboratory method of destructive distillation of coal
The process of heating coal in the absence of oxygen to obtain useful products is called destructive distillation of coal.
When coal is heated strongly above 1000 0 C without air, it produces many byproducts.
The main by products are:
• coke
• coal tar
• amino acid liquor
• coal gas
Let’s understand the concept through experiment
The Materials required

Two hard glass test tubes marked A and B, delivery tubes, clamp stand, burner, rubber stoppers, pieces of coal and water.
Procedure
• Take small pieces of coal in test tube A.
• Test tube A is fitted with a rubber stopper carrying a delivery tube and is clamped to the stand.
• Test tube B containing water is clamped vertically to the stand.
• The burner is lighted and the test tube A is heated first gently and then intensely.
• The gas liberated by heated coal pass through the water in test tube B.
• You will observe black coal tar collected at the bottom of test tube B.
• The ammonical compounds formed will dissolve in water in test tube B to form ammoniacal liquor.
• Coal gas insoluble in water escapes through the side tube. It can be lighted at the end of the open tube. It is a mixture of hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide and other gases.
• Solid residue left behind in test tube A is coke. It is an almost pure form of carbon.
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